LIVERPOOL are ready to mount a major legal challenge to a Premier League charge that they made an illegal approach to prise Christian Ziege away from Middlesbrough.

The Premier League have granted Liverpool a further seven days to finish gathering evidence for what they feel is compelling proof of their innocence.

Northern Echo Sport exclusively revealed on September 26 that Liverpool and Ziege had both been charged following a ten-month investigation into claims by Boro that the German international was "tapped'' before his £5.5m move to Anfield in August last year.

Ziege, sold to Tottenham for £4m this summer, exercised an escape clause in his Boro contract which allowed him to speak to any club offering more than £5m for his services.

Boro, who believe Ziege had a market value of £8m at the time of his move to Merseyside, say they only agreed to the clause on "compassionate'' grounds after the defender's unhappy spell with AC Milan had left his family unsettled.

The Premier League initially gave Liverpool and Ziege 14 days to respond to the charges and submit pleas.

But, having agreed a two-week extension, League officials have now given Liverpool until next Tuesday - five weeks after they were charged - to produce what is expected to be a vigorous defence case.

A Premier League spokesman said: "Liverpool's legal advisors have asked for some further particulars and we have given them another seven days.''

Details of 29-year-old Ziege's plea are not yet known, but it is understood he too will fight to clear his name.

Read more about the Boro here.